Murphy goals crucial as Crettyard crowned Laois Intermediate Football champions

Crettyard are the new Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate Football Champions after a hard-earned victory over Mountmellick this evening in O'Moore Park.

Crettyard 2-12

Mountmellick 0-10

The game was in the balance until midway through the second half, when a Cormac Murphy-led Crettyard asserted their dominance to win the game and secure their place in next year's senior championship.

With a very close first half coming to a close, Mountmellick's Eoin George found himself running through one-on-one with Crettyard goalkeeper, Eoin O'Shea.

But George got caught in two minds between going for a goal or a point and ultimately blasted the ball wide.

A big let-off for Crettyard, who then go up the field where Cormac Murphy fisted the ball into the net after a great run down the right from Evan O'Carroll.

That was the difference between the sides at the break; 1-7 to 0-7.

It was tit-for tat again after the restart, before Crettyard took control midway through the half.

Murphy landed a 45 and from the kick-out he managed to get onto a cut-back to drive the ball into the net for his second goal.

Mountmellick had no answer and never looked like finding the goal they so desperately wanted.

Crettyard left O'Moore Park as the deserved IFC champions and can look forward to the Leinster Club Championship.